WINTER TOURISM
If you’re interested in winter tourism, Bulgaria will offer you high mountains with excellent conditions for skiing, snowboarding, ski running and other winter sports. Not only that, but the country also has to offer luxurious hotels and colorful “Mehanas” (taverns or traditional restaurants) that will welcome you with rich red wine.

BANSKO combines the virgin nature of the Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the authentic Bulgarian town. It is situated at 160 km away from Sofia. It is 925 m above the sea level. This is exactly the height which turns the town into a year-round resort.
During the winter season, the majestic peaks of Rila, Pirin and the Rhodopes, reaching 2, 914 m in height, facilitate the usage of the optimum length of the tracks, suitable for all lovers of the winter sports.
Bansko is on its way to become the best ski resort not only in Bulgaria, but also in the whole Eastern Europe. The tracks and the lifts are built according to the highest standards, and there is also a wonderful track with artificial snow.
Bansko – the biggest winter resort of Bulgaria, welcomes its guests with a new four-seat lift at the “Chalin Valog” area with a new ski tug for beginners. The capacity of the new lift is 2,000 people per hour, and of the tug – about 600. The total length of the tracks is 75 km. There are 14 lifts and 10 tow lifts. When necessary 160 artificial sow machines guarantee the comfortable rest of the skiers. The high class of the Bansko tracks attracts world stars like Janica Kostelic, Kilian Albrecht, Kietil Andre Aamond, etc.

BOROVETS is the oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is just an hour away from Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. Cuddled at the foot of the Rila Mountain – the highest one at the Balkan Peninsular, Borovets is the symbiosis of a marvelous nature, comfortable hotels, fast ski lifts and tracks with a total length of 58 km.
The resort has excellent tracks and fast lifts. Five ski rentals and the biggest ski school with more than 200 ski instructors are at the disposal of the resort guests.
Since Borovets is an Alpine type of resort, it offers perfect opportunities for all kind of winter sports – biathlon, Alpine ski, cross-country, ski jumps and snowboard. The newly built biathlon track is one of the best in the world. The well-developed network of lifts caters up to 15 400 tourist per hour and secures the access of all ski tracks. The resort has hosted rounds of the World Championship in Alpine ski disciplines twice.
The slopes of Borovets have a constant snow cover of more than 1, 5 m from December till April. The average temperature during the coldest month – January, is - 4, 6°C.
All the ski tracks are marked with signs on different languages and are kept in perfect condition. They are with a different degree of difficulty, suitable for beginners and for advanced skiers. From the beginning of 2002/2003 season there are facilities for night skiing in the resort. The snow cover is additionally ensured by the snow generating machines available.
Borovets is not only big hotels and long ski tracks. The other enchantment of the resort is the small family restaurants and taverns, with lots of intimate cosiness, the wonderful Bulgarian cuisuine and selected wines and brandies.
Close to Borovets is the Rila Monastery – the biggest monastery complex in Bulgaria. It has been founded by the hermit St. Ivan Rilski in the 10th century. It is listed in the book of UNESCO of the world cultural heritage. While outside, the monastery resembles a mighty medieval fortress, from the inside – the central church “The Birth of Virgin Mary” and the rest of the buildings, decorated with colonnades, staircases and balconies, exhale the beauty of the Bulgarian national revival’s style.
Also, do not miss the opportunity to climb the highest peak at the Balkan Peninsular – Musala (2925 m). The peak of Musala is preferred to alpinism and tourism.

PAMPOROVO - MECHI CHAL is situated in the central part of the Rhodopes, at an altitude of 1,650 m, at the foot of the Snejanka peak. The climate of the region is characterized by mild winter, with more than 240 sunny days, which sets Pamporovo as the sunniest mountain resort in all Bulgaria. The average annual temperature is 5, 5°C. Pamporovo resort has been offering various possibilities for practice of ski sports since the sixties of 20th century. The zone suitable for exercising of ski sports is a compact area located around the Snejanka peak at altitude of 1,926 m with a totally new modern look. It includes 37 km of runways for alpine disciplines, 25 km of runways for country-cross tracking, fun park with a half-pipe runway, and a great number of stretches fitting for sleigh coasting down and free ride.
There are several ski centers in Pamporovo which the tourists can get to the top – Ski center Bus station No.1, Ski center Malina No.2, Ground Studenets, Smolyan lakes and Stoikite. They are starting point for skiers to Snejanka peak, from where start almost all ski runs and lifts.
Ski runs of Pamporovo are extremely diverse as difficulty degree both for advanced and beginners. The built three seasons ago fun park is gaining more popularity among extreme skiers and snowboarders and the half pipe is annual host to many prestigious competitions.
Modern lifts, new snow processing machines, snow cannons ensure fast movement of tourists without crowding, optimal snow cover and excellent conditions for winter sports. Every tourist without his how equipment may rent such of the many ski storages with quality brands of equipment. Available to visitors are workshop for repair of ski and snowboards and first class ski school for training of all comers. Special separate area for kids from 4 to 12 year old with ski centre Malina allows the youngest to make their first steps in skiing with the support of qualified teachers and instructors.

CHEPELARE is a popular ski resort located near Pamporovo. The ski center is located just after the end of the town Chepelare, near the road to Pamporovo. The ski runs and ski paths of the center are 20 kilometers long. The tracks are of varying length and difficulty and are suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders. There is a four-seat lift available for the skiers, it travels 2, 700 m from the starting point starting point of the station in Chepelare to Mechi Chal peak for 9 minutes. The ski area has facilities for artificial snow.

VITOSHA is an amazing mountain. Nevertheless, every time you go there, you discover something new and unfamiliar. The longest cave in Bulgaria, immense flora diversity, unique stone rivers, the abundance of water and the proximity to Sofia explain the interest towards it. Sofia is the only capital in Europe that can be proud of a whole mountain next to it. Exceptional wealth, granting its inhabitants fresh air, excellent opportunities for winter tourism, ski and snowboard. The overall length of the ski tracks in Vitosha is 20 km. There are 12 lifts available, and the altitude of the ski runs from 1,650 to 2, 290 m. The variety of tracks is s available for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.